Spinal Muscular Atropy has confined Lindsay Cochran to a wheelchair since she was two years old. She was born with this rare disorder that prevents her from doing many of the activities other children her age do. Yet Lindsay refuses to be defined by this disease. In Everyday Health, she says.
“Hi, my name is Lindsay Cochran. I am in a wheelchair because I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). I am 10 years old and I am an animal lover; in fact I dream of being a veterinarian. My favorite animal is a dog. I have a bunny, a dog, and a cat. I am hoping to soon get a service dog because I am very clumsy and drop things because of my disease, and I constantly have to ask my parents to do things for me. Life is different for me because I have to rely on the help of others. This is hard because I am an independent person. I don’t like this because I don’t get to do anything on my own. I need help with things like picking up toys when I drop them, turning on the light in my room, pulling the blanket over me when I’m cold, and ringing the doorbell to my friends’ houses. Being in a wheelchair has good things and bad things, but I try to look at the good things. One of the good things is that I love to go fast-which I can do in my wheelchair! I want people to know that I am a normal kid who just needs a little bit of extra help.” -Lindsay
Her mother Tracy says her their hearts were broken when they realized their dreams for their little girl would never come true. But their reality has been so much more beautiful than they ever could have imagined! Lindsay is now 10 years old and is a vivacious, fun-loving, outgoing 4th grader. She is stronger than her doctors had suggested she would be, yet she is still very weak. She lives most of her life in a power-chair, zipping around and acting like a normal 4th grade girl in every other way. Lindsay lives vicariously through the actions of her brother and friends as she watches from the sidelines, but she rarely complains about not being able to participate or feels sorry for herself. They have learned the power of optimism, since Lindsay is rarely discouraged about her disability.
The Cochran Family was awarded the Unsung Hero Award and this heartwarming video shows what they each means to the other. Big brother Trenton is one of her biggest supporters, who urges others to know that she’s a “normal person.” He also runs races every single year to raise money to find a cure for the disease. Around the 1:50 mark in the video, grab the tissues.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
